What does the Commonwealth war graves Commission do?
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars.
What constitutes a war grave?
A war grave is a burial place for members of the armed forces or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations.
Who looks after British war graves?
The CWGC cares for over 1.1 million Commonwealth War Graves at more than 23,000 locations across 150 countries and territories.
Who qualifies for a war grave?
All personnel fall into one of the following three categories. The location of their death and the cause of death are immaterial to their qualification. They could have been killed in action, died of wounds, died of illness or by accident, died due to suicide or homicide or suffered judicial execution.
Are soldiers actually buried in war graves?
Thousands of soldiers were being buried on the battlefields in individual or communal graves by their comrades. They were often buried where they fell in action, or in a burial ground on or near the battlefield.
Are there bodies in the Commonwealth War Graves?
CWGC war records include references to ‘Memorial Plots’ which were removed when it was confirmed they did not contain any bodies. In most other circumstances, the bodies required exhumation and reburial, during which process attempts were made to identify the individuals.
Where is the largest military cemetery in the world?
Arlington National Cemetery is located in Arlington, VA across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. at the end of Memorial Avenue. What began as the estate of George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington, is now our nation’s largest military cemetery.
Are there bodies in the Commonwealth war graves?
What stone is used for military headstones?
For example, how the information is collated and also questions regarding the headstones themselves. Most Commonwealth War Grave headstones are made of Portland Stone.